Asparagus juniperoides leafy stems

Asparagus juniperoides grows a multitude of cylindrical leafy branches resembling mongoose tails. The stems are erect and curving. The plant is found in Namaqualand near Springbok and also in the Spektakelberg area.

The Asparagus genus originated from South Africa and is probably still spreading in nature; a feature it shares with Homo sapiens if we are not from another part of Africa. Plants of the genus are represented naturally on several continents, while edible asparagus are used commercially worldwide.

The genus is proven to be known to, noticed and maybe used by people for a very, very long time. There is a picture of some asparagus plant as an offering on an Egyptian frieze dating to 3000 BC.

Recording was among the later skills acquired by people, only about 5 500 years ago, as far as we know today. The eating of known plant parts is very much older, from times long before the emergence of our species (Eliovson, 1990; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; www.scinecedirect.com).

(There are more entries on this plant in the Asparagus Album of this Site.)